Data collection techniques, community study, and designing tools for community data collection

Data collection techniques, community study, and designing tools for community data collection

by Penjuree Kanthawongs

1. Collecting data in a community for research requires detailed planning and preparation to obtain accurate and reliable information. Starting with understanding the community context is crucial. You should conduct a preliminary study about the culture, history, and social structure of the community you’re studying. Having this knowledge will help you build trust and cooperation with community members more effectively. Techniques for building relationships with community leaders or key individuals in the community are particularly important, as these people can help pave the way and support your data collection.
2. When choosing data collection methods, consider using qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews, observations, or focus group discussions. These methods help you understand the feelings, attitudes, and beliefs of community members in depth. Additionally, prepare tools for recording data, such as voice recorders, notebooks, or reliable data recording applications.
3. Finally, prepare backup plans for data collection in case of obstacles, whether they are changes in community situations or technical problems. Flexibility and adaptability are key qualities that will make community research successful.

Precautions Rules… Etiquette

Open ears – listen attentively

Open eyes – observe reactions of people around you and take action

Open mouth – exchange / doubt – ask / object

Open mind – listen to different opinions

Why is community important?

Community is the foundation of social life and collectivity.

1. Community culture affects the thoughts and practices of people in the community.
2. Well-managed communities have the potential to solve problems and create good living conditions.

In-depth interview methods and their application in various situations

In-depth interviewing is a qualitative data collection method that focuses on exploring the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and attitudes of the interviewee in detail. This method is suitable for research that requires delving deep into specific topics to obtain comprehensive and in-depth information. For example, surveying opinions on social issues, culture, or personal experiences that are complex and sensitive.

There are several forms of in-depth interviews, such as unstructured interviews, which have no predetermined questions but focus on conversations that allow interviewees to express their thoughts fully. Semi-structured interviews have some main questions set in advance but maintain flexibility in the conversation to follow up on issues that arise during the interview. Additionally, structured interviews have prepared questions in advance and strictly follow the structure, which is suitable for collecting data that requires accuracy and comparison between sample groups.

In-depth interviews are often used in situations that require understanding the context of complex problems or experiences, such as studying the experiences of chronic patients, surveying opinions on public policies, or researching cultural beliefs. Using this technique also helps build trust between the researcher and the interviewee, resulting in higher quality and more detailed data.

Techniques for Analyzing Data from In-depth Interviews

Analyzing data from in-depth interviews is a complex process that requires sensitivity in interpreting information. The main technique commonly used in qualitative data analysis is Thematic Analysis, which begins with reviewing interview notes multiple times to understand the entire content. Then, identify and group similar data together, creating “themes” or main topics that reflect frequently appearing ideas or important issues. Additionally, using Coding techniques helps divide data into manageable units that reflect important issues.

Content Analysis

Another technique is Content Analysis, which focuses on finding the frequency of specific words or issues in the data to understand trends and patterns in the responses. Case Study Analysis is suitable for understanding complex experiences or specific events in depth. This analysis focuses on exploring the details of specific cases and linking them to relevant theories or conceptual frameworks.

In the analysis process, verifying and confirming the reliability of data is a crucial step. This can be done using Member Checking or Peer Review to increase accuracy and reduce potential bias in the analysis.

A ground map is a type of community map called “Geo-social mapping.” Benefits of ground maps:

1. First tool in getting to know the community
2. See an overview of the entire community
3. Reliable, clear, and fast information
4. Get to know people (target groups)
5. Build good familiarity
6. Events related to the community’s history during a period, told by the community itself. It may be a mix of facts related to events, imagination, and local memories (such as stories, legends, places, records, customs, practices).
7. Community history plays a role in the identity, thoughts, perspectives, and attitudes of the community towards various things.
8. Community history can be organized as a story or presented on a timeline, or a combination of both.

Community organizational structure is the system of relationships among people in the community, both formal and informal. Status, duties, and roles are linked to people in the community at 3 levels: individual, group, and network levels. This influences attitudes, behaviors, and expressions of each person in society.

Community organizational structure shows the relationships of people in the community in many dimensions, such as power relationships (political/economic and social), friendships-conflicts.

1. Community organizational structure can also indicate the social capital of that community.
2. Start with the leaders who have the most significant roles, then write the circles of people who have relationships with them.
3. Draw relationship lines between leaders and members, or between members.
4. Use dashed lines to show belonging to the same group.
5. Expand the relationships of individuals (other members) to wider circles.

Observations from fieldwork:

Before entering the community: Study/research – prepare yourself + mind

During community work: How to behave

Leaving the community: Manage data + relationships

Limitations in fieldwork: Researcher: (Being evaluated affects answers related to events/study topics/relationships) Informant:

1. People who can manage local information
2. People who can correctly select local information to match the intended communication goals
3. People who can disseminate local information with respect Must be careful about the rights of individual informants and community rights (Being evaluated affects answers related to study topics/relationships/external personality) People who are skilled at collecting local data